Top Hat

If you need some glamourous inspiration, I highly recommend Top Hat (1935), starring Fred and Ginger! 

It is Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' most famous musical comedy, and the stunning sets and costumes are at the same incredible level as their dancing!

The lighting and contrasts are so elegant.

An American in Paris

 An American in Paris is a fun musical full of exuberant song and dance set to an exclusively Gershwin score. It stars the dynamic dancer, singer, actor, and choreographer Gene Kelly alongside impressively flexible Leslie Caron, who has a contagious ear-to-ear smile.

 The 17 minute ballet at the end of the film is the real stunner, as it brings to life the art of Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Utrillo, Rousseau, and Dufy in rhythm and vivacious sets and costumes.

 This storefront is so delightfully masculine, as was Gene Kelly's style of dance.

Notice all the vibrant stripes used against the simple leaf shapes.

 Gene Kelly even transforms into Toulouse-Lautrec's Chocolat in a hilariously wiggly dance!

 It is a riot of colour.

Magnifique!

Good Words

"Have courage, and be kind."

--Cinderella's mom

Lace and Ginger

I love the softness of this scene from the '80s Anne of Green Gables mini-series.

Anne and Gil

I just purchased Rifle Paper Co's illustrated edition of Anne of Green Gables, my favourite book series, a few days ago. It is all the more appropriately sitting on my shelf as an homage to Jonathan Crombie, a.k.a. Gilbert Blythe, who died on April 15th at age 48. He was excellent in bringing the heartwarming story to life.

Chatsworth House a.k.a. Darcy's Pemberley

 The other day my mom bought a plate at Value Village, loving the Transferware pattern and thinking the house on it looked familiar. Our suspicions were correct because when we looked it up we discovered she had purchased a plate featuring Mr. Darcy's house! Swoon! When it comes to Pride and Prejudice adaptations I definitely fall into the category of Jane Austen accuracy purists and prefer the 1995 version. That being said, when I saw the 2005 adaptation I was blown away by the filming of the scenery. In particular the footage of Chatsworth House, a.k.a. Pemberley, a.k.a. the house on the plate, is gorgeous!

 That's right, Mrs. and Mr. Gardiner--I feel the same way.

 I mean look at that checkerboard!

 And that staircase with the grand carvings!

 And oh how I would adore a room of marble statues in my house.

There he is: the notorious Mr. Darcy in the marble.

Then, later, we see Lizzy flee out the side of the imposing stone mansion...

Followed, of course, by the tension-filled romantic conversation overlooking the stunning gardens. Such breathtaking cinematography!

The Sound of Music: 50 Years Later

The Sound of Music was released March 2nd, 1965, 50 years ago today! It is one of my favourite movies; it is so inspiring. What could top a passionate nun/nanny singing her guts out? Ha! And yes, of course, that's edelweiss below those mountains! I'm reading this LIFE magazine issue dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the film, the behind-the-scenes, and the true story of it all.

The Young Victoria

The Young Victoria is one of the most beautifully produced movies I have ever seen. The telling of the story is sweet and the settings and costumes are beyond elegant. 

It has inspired me to read Queen Victoria's journals (she was a prolific writer who averaged 2,500 words per day.) I have begun with this book, which is a selection of her writing.